Feds say San Leandro councilmember could testify against former Oakland mayor at trial

"OAKLAND Federal prosecutors have signaled they may call a San Leandro city councilman as a witness in the upcoming bribery and fraud trial against former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and the men accused of bribing her. The revelation by Assistant U.S. Attorney Abraham Fine came as hints emerged during a federal court hearing Thursday of broader corruption across the East Bay, particularly in Oakland."

"San Leandro Councilman Bryan Azevedo is due in court Feb. 12 to appear in his own criminal case, during which he is expected to change his plea, court records show. Azevedo was indicted in late 2025 on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and lying to a government agency, amid allegations that he accepted a $2,000 bribe from a fledgling housing company."

"The prospect of Azevedo taking the stand in the Oakland corruption case came as U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers peppered federal prosecutors with questions about what the government might introduce as evidence at trial, so as to ensure that defense attorneys could prepare for that testimony. Thao's attorney, Jeffrey Tsai, told Judge Gonzalez Rogers that he recently sought information from federal prosecutors about an ex-Oakland city councilmember accused of engaging in unlawful activity with a person referred to in court documents only as Co-Conspirator 1."

Federal prosecutors signaled they may call San Leandro Councilman Bryan Azevedo as a witness in the bribery and fraud trial against former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and accused bribe payers. Azevedo is due in court Feb. 12 in his own criminal case and is expected to change his plea. He was indicted in late 2025 on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and lying to a government agency, accused of accepting a $2,000 bribe from a fledgling housing company. Azevedo pleaded not guilty in early January, though prosecutors have hinted a plea deal may be nearing resolution. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers questioned prosecutors about potential trial evidence so defense attorneys can prepare. Thao’s attorney sought information about an ex-Oakland councilmember tied to a person called Co-Conspirator 1, believed to be Mario Juarez, involving unlawful contributions by straw donors; the ex-councilmember was not named and could not be reached for comment after the hearing.

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